LE MONETE LOCALI COME STRUMENTI GIURIDICI PER L’ATTUAZIONE DEL PRINCIPIO DI DEMOCRATICITÀ

Local complementary currencies are alternative currencies which develop in times of crisis, such as now, to restore the trade and productive activities, but also in response to the requests for civic participation and sustainable development of territories. They are characterised by being alternative and complementary to legal tender currencies. In particular, these monetary instruments rely on the concept of trust and responsibility, because they are based on agreements between the parties exchanging the currency. The study of the topic requires the adoption of an interdisciplinary approach involving the contribution of law. Indeed, the legislator can interpret them as legal instruments capable of implementing the principles of democracy and inclusion, taking the opportunity to translate spontaneous energies of society into institutional resources of the legal order. SOMMARIO: 1. Inquadramento generale del fenomeno delle monete alternative. – 1.1. Gli esempi di Wir e Sardex. – 2. Regole sui circuiti monetari paralleli e disciplina giuridica dei servizi di pagamento e di moneta elettronica. – 2.1. Le monete virtuali. Profili di regolazione. – 3. Le monete locali in Italia. Tentativi di disciplina normativa. – 4. Aspetti comparatistici. La legislazione francese sulle monete locali complementari. – 5. La moneta come strumento di partecipazione, secondo i principi di democraticità e inclusione. Necessità di un approccio interdisciplinare. – 6. Conclusioni.